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Product category: Design and Development Hardware
News Release from: Texas Instruments (April 2001-March 2006) | Subject: VSIP toolkit
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 17 November 2003

Toolkit speeds switch to digital video

A novel video security over Internet protocol toolkit aims to help video surveillance system developers to make the transition from analogue to digital technology quickly and cost effectively

Enabling video surveillance system developers to make the transition from analogue to digital technology quickly and cost effectively while adding their own differentiated features to products, Texas Instruments and Ateme, a leading French-based provider of hardware and software solutions for video and signal processing, have released a novel video security over Internet protocol (VSIP) toolkit.

Based on TI's high-performance TMS320DM642 digital media processor, the VSIP toolkit provides a complete hardware and software platform for the development of intelligent network video cameras.

Video surveillance systems are currently undergoing a transition where more and more analogue solutions are being replaced by digital.

The new VSIP toolkit will help developers build intelligent security cameras that take advantage of a digital IP network by leveraging the real-time performance and flexibility inherent in DSP technology.

Digital technology enables audio-video data compression that minimises transmission bandwidth and storage requirements and permits security cameras to operate on standard data networks without the expense of bulky coaxial cables.

Digital video cameras today represent the fastest-growing segment of the overall market for surveillance cameras, including those used in stores, shopping malls, office buildings, casinos, sports centres and virtually any other networked environment where security is needed.

With the programmable DSP, intelligent cameras can be designed to capture relevant images and respond to only the significant events.

For example, cameras can be programmed to react to specific conditions such as a box or suitcase being dropped off and left unattended, while ignoring other objects that are a part of the region of interest.

When a condition that causes an alarm occurs, such as a car parked in a lot at a time not permitted, an intelligent camera is able to zoom in, encode the images and record specific images such as licence plates and information of interest.

Although there are a number of options for powering a digital video surveillance system such as FPGAs or ASICs, none of these options offers the flexibility of the DSP.

The flexibility of a DSP allows developers to change compression standards, add specific processing capabilities and develop different products on the same hardware platform - enabling a wide range of products and creating a future proof system.

'The VSIP toolkit will help customers dramatically reduce time to market by providing a plug and play development platform and all the software technology and tools useful for video security over IP applications', said Marc Guillaumet, Marketing Director, Ateme.

'Combining Ateme's strengths in video and imaging applications and TI's expertise in digital signal processing, the VSIP toolkit will provide customers high performance video processing functions they need to meet the industry requirements'.

Digital compression also saves archival storage space and facilitates fast searches through recorded material.

To minimise network traffic, the cameras can be programmed to send images only when specified events occur, such as entries and exits from a doorway.

The VSIP toolkit allows developers to leverage advanced digital functionality: by incorporating this functionality directly into a stand-alone IP camera; or by incorporating functionality into a network encoder that that supplies digital intelligence for multiple standard analogue surveillance cameras.

In the latter scenario, developers will benefit from the ability to use existing cameras without the expense of replacing them with new ones.

The VSIP toolkit includes all the hardware, software and tools needed to create a fully digital system for the encoding and transmission of camera surveillance information.

The DM642 board includes audio and video inputs and a camera sensor.

Evaluation software includes object libraries for MPEG-4 video encoder and decoder, audio compression, RTP/RTSP video streaming and a PC display software.

For application development, the tool kit includes video surveillance-specific source code for motion vector extraction, noise filtering, dating and referencing, with options for alarm management, encryption and advanced motion detection.

A full version of TI's Code Composer Studio integrated development environment (IDE) also is included.

The kit is also among the first to offer MPEG-4 compression, the latest and most efficient of the MPEG video compression algorithms, designed to minimise bandwidth requirements in network video transmission.

As the VSIP toolkit is an application-oriented, open platform, it is not necessary for developers to have a deep understanding of DSP programming techniques.

Moreover, application software from developers and third parties is easy to integrate, allowing straightforward customisation for market differentiation.

'Intelligent video surveillance cameras will enhance the effectiveness of video security networks, helping to increase people and property safety', said Yvonne Cager, Worldwide DSP Video Solutions Marketing Manager, TI.

'The VSIP toolkit will enable system developers to introduce these intelligent cameras that are not only more feature-rich but also cost effective'.

Developers using the VSIP toolkit have access to the industry's most comprehensive support network, including online training, comprehensive documentation, access to experts and TI's website, and hands-on workshops, which shorten learning time and make development easier.

Developers can get started today by downloading TI's white paper 'Introduction to video surveillance systems over the Internet protocol', datasheet and more.

The complete VSIP toolkit is available today and can be ordered through TI distribution and Ateme representatives for $14,995.

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